Chapter: 664
In the capital of Soladin, Arthur hurried his steps as he heard Karia calling for him while helping Cecile with the succession of the throne.
A chance to escape from the mocking of the sculptures, the nagging of his ancestors, and the never-ending work—he couldn’t let this opportunity slip away!
He passed by several knights assisting in the restoration work and arrived in a back alley, stopping when he saw men praying around a statue.
If I remember correctly, those should be Karia’s subordinates, but what are they doing like that?
What’s so special about that statue?
Hmm? Isn’t that a statue of Lucy Alrn?
It’s incredibly ornate.
It must’ve been made by the Art Guild.
I see it’s a decent piece of art, but I can’t fathom why those burly men are sobbing while praying.
If they’re not familiar with Lucy Alrn, I could understand, but aren’t those guys the ones who have had a run-in with her mischief at least once?
“Prince! You’ve come quickly.”
“Karia, this is too much of a prank.”
“Oh, that? I didn’t order it.”
“Then they’re trying to provoke me?”
“No, they’re genuinely doing that. Would such fervor come from acting?”
Seeing a man weeping uncontrollably, Arthur pressed his eyelids together. Am I dreaming? Have I fainted from overwork and am now stuck in a nightmare?
“This isn’t a dream.”
“I wish it were.”
“Follow me. I’ll explain the reason.”
Even as he followed Karia, he noticed more people praying here and there.
At this point, it seems something related to the mind has attacked the capital.
Ugh. Dammit. We haven’t even finished the palace restoration, and some random fool is causing a ruckus?
“Hehehe. Hehehehe.”
Meeting Lina clutching the crystal and drooling, Arthur realized the situation was even graver than he’d imagined.
It was just that Lucy Alrn always looked like trash next to her. Normally, Lina is quite the powerhouse. Her title as the owner of the forest isn’t just for show.
If it’s something related to mental state and even she is affected, then…
“Prince, I know you’re troubled, but it’s not what you think.”
“No? Then why is Lina in such a state? Hasn’t she fallen below the level of a beast?!”
“Doesn’t she do that often?”
“That’s only when it’s related to Lucy Alrn… no way.”
“I called you to tell you that.”
The crystal made to inform the world of the Apostle of the God seems ordinary on the surface.
However, considering all the sights he had witnessed, it shouldn’t be taken lightly.
“There’s no brainwashing magic involved.”
“So you preemptively dispelled it?”
“No, really, it’s not brainwashing. It’s just that perverted freak Prete poured his soul into creating a video.”
“A simple video made them look like that?!”
Isn’t that even scarier than brainwashing?
While pondering what the Goddess’s Apostle created, Arthur struggled between curiosity and fear, ultimately choosing curiosity.
“Is it okay if I see it?”
“What you’re holding is fine.”
“Is there something else?”
“It just ended up that way.”
Blinking his eyes, Arthur chuckled lightly and placed his hand on the crystal.
At that moment, his vision suddenly turned black.
Must be the crystal’s magic. What’s it gonna do?
Before long, Arthur’s eyesight returned, but what was before his eyes wasn’t the scenery of the alley.
He stood in the middle of the worship hall of the Lord’s Church he had seen before.
Startled by the sudden change of scenery, he looked around, and he felt a warm divinity from in front of him.
The girl praying in front of the statue was someone he knew very well, but he couldn’t bring himself to believe it.
Lucy Alrn, with her mouth closed in prayer, couldn’t possibly look like the arrogant brat he knew.
– Oh, Divine One.
As he admired the divinity floating in the worship hall, he froze upon facing Lucy, who turned her head.
I can’t believe I’m actually thinking this, but I have to admit it.
Damn. Lucy Alrn looks disgustingly beautiful!
After that, Arthur absorbed the countless scenes captured in the video.
The priests appearing wherever Lucy Alrn passed.
The knights accompanying her.
The choir singing praises.
The cardinals bowing respectfully.
The fog rolled out outside the worship hall, and the Saintess, smiling brightly, stepped aside.
And the moment Lucy Alrn set foot, the mist cleared, unveiling a shining sun in the blue sky.
The Apostle of the God had experienced countless battles up until now.
Upon returning to reality after seeing it all, Arthur understood why the people outside were acting like that.
After seeing this video, anyone would have to praise the Apostle of the God.
Even I, who knows Lucy Alrn well and has been through various trials with her, felt a sense of awe.
What would those who had only seen her from a distance think, and how about those who only heard rumors about her?
This video isn’t merely to announce the Apostle of the God.
It was created to elevate Lucy Alrn as a hero.
“Isn’t it amazing?”
“I won’t deny that, but I can’t believe Lucy Alrn filmed something like this. She seems to be burdened by others’ attention.”
“Didn’t she just not get used to it? Who hates to be praised?”
As Karia asked if it was about time for Lucy to stop being hated, Arthur couldn’t bring himself to respond.
She had been hated for a long, long time.
Yet, Lucy had risked her life for others.
Now, who could blame her for wanting to be rewarded at this stage?
“And, by the way, the employer was desperately trying to stop it. Just got ignored.”
“…Is it possible for that guy’s opinion to be disregarded?”
“If many people who cherish the employer, including the Saintess, Young Lady Partran, and personal maids, earnestly request it, then yes.”
“That guy. He’s surprisingly weak against those close to him.”
“All in all, he’s quite endearing.”
“Even when you tease Karia?”
“Let’s make that an exception. I genuinely feel like hitting him.”
From that day on, Lucy’s video spread even faster than expected by those involved, Erginius or Prete.
The deep impact of the video was significant, but the determination of those who had seen it to strongly recommend it to others had a great influence.
One should not keep the Apostle’s efforts to themselves. Everyone needs to watch that video and feel gratitude!
Driven by such determination, the result of people’s efforts led to Lucy’s original desire being met in just two days.
Of course, just because Lucy’s goal was achieved didn’t mean people would stop.
*
Waking up and slowly pulling aside the curtains, Arthur saw people kneeling and praying.
From the dawn that hadn’t quite broken, the devotion was palpable among those coming out to pray.
What was astonishing was that the number of praying people increased day by day.
Initially, only those staying at the holy ground visited here, but after the video was released, people from nearby began to come, and now even from far-off places.
Something’s wrong.
My initial goal was merely to persuade the followers beneath the other Apostles. They needed to cooperate for a joint attack on every location.
But what is this?! Am I being treated like a living god, akin to a cult leader?!
Why are they praying to me?! They should be praying to the pathetic God! I’m just that guy’s proxy!
Aaaah! These fantasy world folks are just too naïve!
Why on earth do they believe such a heavily dramatized video?!
It should be normal to think there’s manipulation and propaganda involved, right!?
Why do they take it at face value?! You idiots!
‘That’s because you’re old-fashioned, Grandpa!’
Ah, really. What if I get trapped here?
I heard the area where the hero and Garad were staying collapsed, and a shard of the Evil God was stolen, so I clicked my tongue and grumbled quietly.
Haaah. I never thought I’d miss a modern society where people suspiciously analyzed every video they saw!
If I were in that town, events like this wouldn’t happen!
‘…Seriously?’
Usually, when an Apostle gains this much popularity, the God gets jealous and punishes them, but what about our pathetic God?
Hmm. I think I can relax about that. The pathetic God would probably revel in the chaos and feel satisfied.
‘It’s so overflowing that I feel like I’m going to burst!’
It’s not just the burden of their expectations that’s a problem. The faith that spreads at an unusually rapid pace is a problem too.
Since I am the Apostle of the God, the faith directed at me is no different from the faith directed at the God.
Thanks to that, the God’s influence is growing so rapidly compared to the time when the Pope wielded Agra’s power recklessly.
Considering that this madness will not merely decrease but will only amplify as time goes on, it’s clear that the Pope’s plan will soon come to fruition.
The only lucky thing is that they’re apparently preparing for it too.
‘Grandpa. Just asking, but what will happen when everything is over and my achievements are revealed?’
…
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